Laminated container closure



July 2, 1946. w A, SMITH 2,403,131

LAMINATED CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Aug. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIEE. C f /2 n BY LA T TORNEY July 2, 1946. w. A. SMITH 2,403,131

LAMINATED CONTAINER CLOSURE.

Filed Aug. l0, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. w/r/...L/HMasM/TH L AT :rom/EK Panarea July 2, 194s LAMINATED CONTAINER CLSURE William A. Smith, Bronxviile, N. Y., signor to F. N. Burt Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a oorporation of Delaware Application August 10, 1942, Serial No. 454,336

'I'his invention relates to non-metallic caps or,4

closures for containers, particularly for glass jars containing tobacco, candy or similar dry materials or liquid products such as preserves, and the like.

One of the salient features of this invention isy the laminated structure of the cap, the top layer providing the covering or closure, the intermediate layer or layers providing the slums or spacers,v and the bottom layers having rigid tabs that engage corresponding spaced ridges on the jar, so the cap may be instantly interlocked thereon.

Another salient feature of this invention is the variable finish that may he provided to cover over the layers of pressed paper-board, fibre or kraft-board, or other similar material, thereby simulating a one piece cap member.

Another feature of this invention, is providing a non-metallic cap with means to :make it airtight and water-proof, such for example, as by waxed paper, or coating of any suitable character to make impervious the inner portion of the cap or closure member, after which the exterior portion may have any suitable label, printing or advertisement, in any colors desired.

Other objects and features ofthe invention will be in' part pointed out in the following detailed description of certain illustrative embodiments thereof, and will be in part obvious as the description proceeds.

'I'hel invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of' elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exempliiied in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of theinvention, reference is had to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in which: v t

Figure 1 is an elevational and sectional view of the cap or closure member of this invention, which is shown in its secured position on a glass jar.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view of the cap or closure member by itself.A

Figure 3 is an elevational viewof the upper neck portion of the glass jar, showing the` locking 50 ridges that secure the cap member thereto. Y Figure 4 .is a plan view of Figure 1, the top cover and layer member being Ibroken away for the purpose of lilustration.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view show- 65 manufacturing costs. and can be satisfactorily t s claim. (ci. eis-40 ing the laminations or layers of the cap member.

Figure 6 is an underside perspective view of the assembled capmember. before the iinal exterior treatment.

Figure 'l is a perspective view on a reduced scale showing the laminated non-metallic cap member of this invention secured onto the glass jar.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on a reduced scale 'similar to Figure 1, in which ythe under surface of the top laminated layeris coated with wax, or

' is provided with a separate waxed paper gasket,

or cover member, which is a solid and full disklike piece of pressed paper-board, fibre or kraftboard, or of any other similar tough non-metallic material. An intermediate layer or fiat ring member II of the same material and the same outside diameter as the top layer I0, has an inner circular opening I2. The bottom layer i4 is a flat ring member similar to the member II, but it has projecting rigid-tab portions I5 suitably spaced apart as shown around the inner circular opening I2a. 'Therrigid tabs I5 as shown are preferably integral with the inner edge portion of the flat ring Il. i

All of thevlayers I Ii, I I and Il are assembled into a cap or laminated closure member'C, clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, being secured together such as by means of glue or cement applied on the layer surfaces and portions contacting each other. The laminated structure may be iinished as desired, such as by spraying means in any desired finish or color, by which the layers are concealed. and are made water and air-tight, whereby the appearance of a solid cap member is simulated, asshowninFigure 7.

The cap member C is adapted to be attachedy and secured onto a container, such as a glass Jar J, having a'short neck and mouth portion with a very large opening O slightly smaller than the jar itself. Projecting inclining ridges R are suitably spaced apart as indicated at OS and are provided with stops S, as shown in Figures 1 lto 4, 111-.

used as a substitute for metallic caps heretofore employed.

' Therefore, the tabs l5y formed in the bottom e layer or ring member I4, must be made from tough and durable material, as these tabs I undergo a severe strain 'while being wedged .under inclining ridges R, tending to open or rupture the intermediate layer I I which therefore must `be of tough material in order to prevent such an occurrence. A shoulder portion P on the jar is slightly below the ridges R, against .which the tabs l 5 will be wedged tightly. It is desirable that the parts be so proportioned that each tab I5 will engage in tight wedging relation with the corresponding inclined under surface T at a point thereof about one-third to one-half of the length of said surface. from the near end thereof. or the endA at which the tab enters, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. 1

This novel non-metallic laminated closure structure is especially useful for commercial sizes of tobacco and similar jars which may be reused either for lsimilar vrmaterials or "for, preserving fruits and other solid or liquid foods. Therefore, sealing means, such as a wax paper W, Amay be used as a'gasket to keep the contents in jar J air and water-tight, as shown in Figure 8. vIn this embodiment two or more intermediate nonmetallic layers II and Ila, depending on the space from the top opening of the ja'r to the locking ridges R, all of which may vary in certain types of jars. 'I'he sealing strip W is preferably held in its normal operative position as shownbymeans closing position on the neck of the jar J as shown in liig. 3, the lugs I5 enter in the spaces between the respective adjacent inclined attaching ridges R. When the Vlugs are thus entered, theentire closure cap is rotated slightly to cause the lugs ,n to berespectively wedged against the under surfaces T of the ridges R.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and diierent embodiments of the invention could be'made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat-A ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall fbe inter- Y preted as illustrative and not in a'limiting sense.

vintegral/'with said bottoml ring member, said' rigid y tabs projecting inwardly in positionfor securing engagementv with the container, allof said disk and ring membersl being integrally secured to'- gether in superposedrrelation to form a laminated closure structure, the innervvsurface of said laminated closure structure being suitably finished to make itwater and air proof, and the exterior portion thereof being nished `to simulate a one of its marginal portions extending in between the top closure disk I 0 and the adjacent ring lamination II.

The double intermediate layers I I and Ila may allow the use of less tough board, and in such case -the layers may be treated or glued together so the medial portion will not likely rupture or break open. Certain special treatments of lthe inexpensive paper-board may be adopted, if so desired, so as to provide the necessary toughness and durability of the laminated parts, and to prevent the opening up of the fibre portion, in which event, the single intermediate layer II may be substituted by two or more thinner Alayers, like Ila,vso the layers will be solidified together in their glueing operation. Only the intermediate ring members II, IIa, need the glueing, as the disk and bottom ring members IIl and I4 are mountedthereto.

It is to be noted that the rigid tabs l5' are on" the same plane asv the nat surfaces of the ring itself, and are not formed the same as the metal turned-in anges for a similar purpose. quite obvious Vthat the rigid tabs and ring I4 should be made of tough libre-board, or similar material, as theser projections I5`undergo considerable stress vwhile being wedged under the inclining ridges R of the jar J, and should be in,- .terlocked or. wedged against the ridges -R at points thereof as above pointed out' and as shown in Figure 4, so as to allow for a long continuous use, as whenthe tobacco jars are converted to other uses ais above suggested. `In production the disks I0, rings I I and I4 are punched out of alarge sheet 'by dies in one operation, and then assembled into their laminated formation as described.

It will be noticed that the integral attaching lugs I 5 on the ilat ring I4 are spaced horizontally It isl piece member.

2. In a closure for a container opening, in com Abination, a closure disk adapted to extend over the container opening to provide a closure therefor, a plurality of iiat ring members in superposed relation, a plurality of projecting rigid v tabs spaced apart on the inner edge portion -of one of said ring members and spaced from said closure disk so as to be positionedfor securing engagement with the container, Asaid disk and ring members being 'secured together integrally to form a laminated closure structure,said closure structure being finished on the exterior and interior portions to conceal the laminations and provide water and air tight means, said tabs forming securing lugs adapted to be interlocked on inclining ridges of Jars, and theV like.

3. In a closure for a container;` opening, in

combination, a closure disk adapted to extend over the container opening to provide a closure therefor, a plurality of at rings having upper and' lower contacting surfaces adhesively atvtached together and to said closure disk to form a laminated closure structure, and a plurality of inwardly projecting attaching tabs spaced along and integral with the inner edge portionof one of said at rings that is spaced downwardly from said closureA disk by one or more of said at rings vwhereby said-tabs are spaced downwardly from saidclosure disk so as to form lugs positioned for `securing engagementwith yformations on the containerjfor holding the closure in closing position.

along the inner edge of this ring, and that they "are spaced downwardly'. a short distance from the top closure disk III as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, when the closure cap'is placed in 4. Ina closure for a container opening, in combination, a closure disk adapted to extend over the container opening to provide a closure therefor, a

plurality of flat'rings having upper and'lower contacting surfaces adhesively attached together and to said closure disk to form a laminated closure structure, a plurality of inwardly projecting attaching tabs spaced along and integral with the inner edge portion of one of said flat rings that is spaced downwardly frounsaid Iclosure disk by one or more of said flat rings whereby said tabs are spaced downwardly fromrsaid closure disk so as to form ius! positioned ior securing engagement with formations on the container for holding l the closure in vclosing position, and a sealing member on the inner surface of said closure disk and having marginal attaching portions extending between the iaminations o! said closre'structure for attaching it in position.

5. In a closure for a container opening, in oombinatioxr, a closure disk positioned to extend over the container opening to provide a closure therefor'. a iilatr ring rmiy attached to said disk to form a `laminated closure structure. a plurality of spaced inwardly projecting attaching tabs in- 6 tegral with the inner edge portion of said fiat ring and spaced'downwardly from said closure disk so as to vform lugs positioned for automatic securing engagement with formations on the container upon relative movement of said closure .I

structure for holding the closure in closing position, anda sealing member on the inner surface of said closure disk and having marginal attaching portions extending between the iaminations of said closure structure for attaching it in position. l

n WIILIAM A. SMITH. 

